Monthly Archives: December 2012

Dec
21
2012
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In Case You Missed It… Articles Roundup Week of 12/21/12

OB VS154 velect G 20121217024727 In Case You Missed It… Articles Roundup Week of 12/21/12

Courtesy of: Associated Press

This week: Capriles held on to his governorship of Miranda in Sunday’s state elections, solidifying his place as the opposition’s leader; power struggles between Chávez’s most influential allies begin to brew as the shadow of the president’s cancer looms; the budget for Venezuela’s states and communities will be less than it was in 2009; socialist communes will receive more funds in 2013 than mayor and governor’s offices. Meanwhile, Chávez suffers a respiratory infection and must remain in a state of “absolute rest”; Chavez’s battle with cancer and the possibility of a new presidential election will likely delay a needed currency devaluation; Venezuelan allies fear they will lose their socialist patron if Chávez dies or is forced to step down; Venezuela’s Supreme Court considers may decide whether  Chávez’s presidential swearing-in can be postponed. Lastly, Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE) announces that the election of 335 mayors and municipal councils will be held next May 26.

Venezuela’s Capriles Solidifies Threat to Chávez, Wall Street Journal

Henrique Capriles held on to his governorship in state elections Sunday, solidifying his place as the opposition’s most likely candidate if President Hugo Chávez’s illness forces a new race for Venezuela’s presidency.

Behind appearance of unity among Chavez allies, some Venezuelans see power struggles brewing, Associated Press

Hugo Chavez’s most influential allies are projecting an image of unity while the president recovers from cancer surgery in Cuba, standing side-by-side and pledging to uphold his socialist movement no matter what happens.

Venezuela’s FY2013 budget below that of 2009, El Universal

During the presentation of the national budget for fiscal year 2013, Finance Minister Jorge Giordani stressed that next year the regions would be receiving more funds than in 2012. However, official data shows that the FY2013 budget will be actually below that in 2008-2009.

Venezuelan communes to get more funds than mayor’s offices, El Universal

Venezuela’s Budget Law for fiscal year 2013 provides that some USD 4.9 billion will be allocated by the Inter-territorial Compensation Fund (FCI) to the projects and plans of governor’s offices, mayoralties and communal councils.

Venezuela’s Chavez Suffers Respiratory Infection After Surgery, Businessweek

Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez suffered a respiratory infection after cancer surgery in Cuba that was treated by doctors and controlled on Dec. 17, Information Minister Ernesto Villegas said yesterday. Chavez is currently in stable condition, Villegas said in a national address on television and radio.

Chavez’s cancer may put Venezuela devaluation on hold, Reuters

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s battle with cancer and the possibility of a new presidential election look likely to delay key economic policy decisions including a sharp currency devaluation needed to shore up public finances.

Analysis: Allies to lose socialist patron if Venezuela’s Chavez goes, Reuters

Murals adorning a Caracas slum that has given militant backing to President Hugo Chavez over the years are a virtual pantheon of international radicals. From Colombia’s FARC guerrillas to the Palestine Liberation Organization and Ernesto “Che” Guevara, the images and slogans on teeming slopes above Chavez’s presidential palace hail socialist revolutionaries the world over.

Top Venezuela judge: court could decide if constitution allows delay of Chavez’s swearing-in, Washington Post

The president of Venezuela’s Supreme Court said Thursday that it could decide whether it’s constitutional to postpone the date of ailing President Hugo Chavez’s swearing-in as he recovers from cancer surgery in Cuba.

Venezuela’s electoral council: Local elections will be held on May 26, El Universal

The Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE) announced on Thursday that the election of 335 mayors and municipal councils, in addition to two mayoralties in Caracas metropolitan area and their respective chambers will be held next May 26.

 
Dec
17
2012
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ICYMI: Venezuela’s Capriles Solidifies Threat to Chávez

Wall Street Journal
December 17, 2012
By Kejal Vyas

OB VS154 velect G 20121217024727 ICYMI: Venezuelas Capriles Solidifies Threat to Chávez

Courtesy of: Associated Press

CARACAS—Henrique Capriles held on to his governorship in state elections Sunday, solidifying his place as the opposition’s most likely candidate if President Hugo Chávez’s illness forces a new race for Venezuela’s presidency.

The center-left Mr. Capriles, who lost to Mr. Chávez in a presidential race in October, has pledged to maintain nearly all of the current president’s social programs, but says he wants to run them more efficiently.

The opposition suffered a blow in the state polls Sunday, winning only three of the country’s 23 governor seats and losing four they had held before the vote.

“This has been a total victory” for Mr. Chávez’s ruling party, Miguel Perez Pirela, host of a pro-government political program, said on state television as the president’s supporters celebrated.

Despite its strong performance, the ruling party remains at a crossroads because of the health problems facing Mr. Chávez, the charismatic leftist leader who has dominated Venezuelan politics for 14 years.

The 58-year-old former army officer was re-elected in early October and announced a recurrence of his cancer a week ago, raising uncertainty about his future at the helm of the oil-rich South American country of 29 million people. Venezuela’s constitution requires new elections to be called within 30 days if a president dies or is incapacitated.

With his victory Sunday, Mr. Capriles has emerged as the strongest likely opposition candidate in a possible presidential vote. Analysts had said a loss in the Miranda state governor’s race would have been a devastating blow to his political future after his unsuccessful run against Mr. Chávez in October.

The 40-year-old governor won just over 50% of the votes in the state race Sunday, fighting off a challenge from former Vice President Elias Jaua—whom Mr. Chávez had handpicked to run against Mr. Capriles. Mr. Jaua took 46% of the vote.

“I feel happy for the people of Miranda, but in the rest of the country we didn’t achieve what we set out for,” Mr. Capriles said late Sunday at his campaign headquarters in Caracas.

A week ago Mr. Chávez tapped his longtime ally and vice president, Nicolas Maduro, as his preferred successor to lead his self-styled “socialist revolution.” Analysts are at odds over how Mr. Maduro, who has never been tested in an election, would fare against the opposition.

Mr. Capriles lost to Mr. Chávez by about 11 percentage points in the Oct. 7 presidential vote—but polls show Mr. Capriles winning if he were to face off against the president’s top allies. The governor has run a hectic door-to-door campaign during much of this year in a bid to attract voters from Mr. Chávez’s traditional strongholds in slums and the countryside.

Still, Sunday’s election results are “overall a negative for the opposition’s chances in any potential presidential election that could occur in the months ahead,” said Bret Rosen, a Latin America strategist at Standard Chartered. He said the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela, or PSUV, won more states than analysts had expected.

Venezuelan authorities said Mr. Chávez continued recovering from his operation in Cuba over the weekend. Few details about his condition have been released.

The president was “of full mental capacity” and was already “giving instructions and governing,” Science Minister Jorge Arreaza, who is also Mr. Chávez’s son-in-law, said from Havana in a phone call aired on state television.

However, government officials said throughout the week that Mr. Chávez’s recovery could take time, and asked Venezuelans to understand if he were unable to return before Jan. 10, when he is scheduled to be sworn in for his next six-year term.

Mr. Chávez has never said what kind of cancer he faces. He said on Dec. 8 that there had been a recurrence of malignant cells that required him to undergo surgery in Havana last week, his fourth operation for the illness since June 2011. He has also received several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

 
Dec
14
2012
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In Case You Missed It… Articles Roundup Week of 12/14/12

20121215 AMP001 0 In Case You Missed It… Articles Roundup Week of 12/14/12

Courtesy of: Reuters

This week: Chávez’s health remains in the news as he returned to Cuba for surgery after naming Maduro as his successor; following Chávez’s announcement many Venezuelans wonder if his socialist legacy is coming to an end; Maduro wipes away tears while speaking to supporters about the president’s health; investors and Venezuelans alike begin to envision a nation without Chávez; and Venezuelan bonds soar as many believe Chávez will be unable to complete his third term. Meanwhile, Maduro tells Venezuelans that Chávez’s cancer surgery was “complex and difficult”; Venezuela’s membership in Mercosur raises leftists concerns that the government may ignore the free trade agreement known as ALBA; and due to Chávez’s “complex” recovery, he many not recover in time to be sworn in for his third term next month. Lastly, according to doctors, Chávez’s cancer is most likely terminal given the re-occurrence of his disease.

Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez, facing a 4th cancer surgery, anoints successor in case he has to leave office, Washington Post

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez will undergo his fourth cancer surgery in Cuba in the coming days, the fiery leader said over the weekend, explaining that he had decided to designate a successor in case the illness forces him to resign from the office he has held for nearly 14 years.

Venezuela Confronts Twilight of Chávez Era, The Wall Street Journal

CARACAS—Venezuela is embarking on a period of deep political uncertainty after President Hugo Chávez announced over the weekend that his cancer had returned and for the first time named a successor, suggesting that his disease could be terminal and his 14-year-grip on power coming to an end.

Venezuelans (and Investors) Ponder a Life Without Chávez, The Wall Street Journal

CARACAS—Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez traveled to Cuba on Monday to prepare for emergency surgery to treat a new malignant tumor, while financial markets and ordinary Venezuelans began to think about how the oil-rich country might change if the former tank commander loses his battle for life

Venezuelan vice president steps into void, wiping tears, while Chavez set for cancer surgery, Washington Post

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s cancer relapse and his sudden announcement that he will undergo a fourth cancer-related surgery in Cuba have thrown the country’s future into question, and his designated political heir has begun trying to fill the void.

Venezuelan Bonds Soar on Chavez Cancer Recurrence: Andes Credit, Bloomberg Businessweek

Venezuelan bonds surged, sending benchmark yields to a five-year low, as speculation mounted that President Hugo Chavez will be unable to complete his third term after he acknowledged a recurrence of his cancer.

Venezuela VP: Hugo Chavez recovering after surgery, USA Today

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was recovering in Cuba on Tuesday after an operation targeting an aggressive cancer that has defied multiple treatments and has prompted the socialist leader to name a political successor.

Venezuela’s membership in Mercosur raises debate, Press TV

Venezuela became the fifth member of Mercosur after member states Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay suspended Paraguay’s membership last June due to Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo’s removal from office.

Venezuela’s Chavez May Not Recover in Time for New Term, Bloomberg Businessweek

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is facing a “complex” recovery from cancer surgery and may not be well again in time to be sworn in for a third term next month, Information Minister Ernesto Villegas said

Preparing to pass the torch, The Economist

WHEN campaigning for a new six-year term earlier this year, Hugo Chávez tried to persuade Venezuelans that he was cured of unspecified “pelvic” cancer, first diagnosed in June 2011. “I’ve forgotten all about that,” he bragged, just days before the election on October 7th, which he won with 55% of the vote.

Outlook for Chávez Darkens, Doctors Say, The Wall Street Journal

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez’s cancer is most likely terminal given the disease’s recurrences, and while the president may bounce back for periods, his health is increasingly at risk, say several leading cancer specialists not involved in the treatment.